Bashar Assad dismisses accusations of chemical weapons use by Syrian army

August 26, 2013, 11:32 UTC+3US put forth accusations and only after gather evidence, official says

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Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an exclusive interview with Izvestia daily that he rejects accusations of the use of chemical weapons by Syrian governmental troops.

“The statements, which politicians in the United States, the West and other countries have made, are an insult to common sense and negligence of the public opinion of their peoples,” Bashar Assad stated. “This is the nonsense: at first put forth accusations and only after that gather the evidence. And this is what such a powerful country as the United States is doing. So, they accused us last Wednesday and only two days later the U.S. government stated that it began gathering the evidence. How do they intend to gather this evidence from a distance? They accused us that the army used chemical weapons in the area, which is allegedly under control of the rebels. But in fact, there is no clear frontline between the army and the rebels in this district. And whether the state authorities can use chemical or any other weapons of mass destruction at the place, where their forces are concentrated. This contradicts basic logic. Therefore, such accusations are absolutely political and several victories of the governmental forces over terrorists caused them,” the Syrian president said.

“As for the investigations of the war crimes in Syria, we were the first to demand a probe of an international committee,” Bashar Assad went on to say. “When the terrorists fired a missile with poisonous gas on Aleppo, shortly after numerous statements in the West that the governmental forces are prepared to use chemical weapons, we demanded a visit of foreign experts. This position was agreed upon with Russia; we wanted the U.S., France and Great Britain to make sure for themselves that this was our enemies that use chemical weapons. So that they will make sure of it on the basis of concrete facts, but not groundless accusations,” Assad noted.

Izvestia daily noted that the Syrian authorities and the U.N. committee agreed on joint actions over the investigation of an alleged use of chemical weapons several hours after Assad’s interview. The results of their work will be passed to the United Nations Organization.

“Any results can be taken for the benefit of some concrete countries. Therefore, we expect that Russia will not permit taking the documents in the interests of U.S. and Western politics in general,” Assad noted.